Wally Nadel
World War II in the Aleutians - Shemya (APO 729) January 26, 1943 to January 27, 1946 |
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1. Recap of Army Facilities Ft. Benjamine Harrison, Indiana Ft. McClellan - Anniston, Alabama Ft. Lawton - Seattle, Washington 4. Shemya 7. My Outfit 8. My Buddies 12. Potpourri 14. Coincidences |
MAJOR ALEXANDER
BRINDLE
One day, around November 1944, our company commander gathered our outfit together for an important announcement. He said that he was being transferred out - - - Where? or Why? was not disclosed. Our outgoing Captain then introduced our new commander, Major Alexander Brindle. Not much was revealed about him. Much of the information and his background came out in the weeks to come. He was not a great orator, nor was his demeanor or bearing reminiscent of a seasoned Within a few days, we perceived him as a middle aged, laid back, no nonsense guy who spent most of his time touring the harbor area, visiting my supply room, our rigging shed, examining and testing our equipment, taking soundings in the harbor area, searching under the docks, examining the breakwater, and asking everyone their name - and - what do you do here? We weren't used to an officer who often wore his hat on backward, and didn't have the patience for saluting and other Army protocol. Alexander Brindle owned a cannery, a small fishing fleet, a local newspaper, and had his fingers in other ventures - I believe in his experience with boats in and around
the of the problems in Shemya - getting boats in and out - both Army and Navy boats that often needed men rescued from floundering in the heavy seas. This patriotic guy put his businesses in the hands of others, accepted the Major commission, left his family, and we suspected that he never had a day of Army training but was more valuable for his experience and he proved it time and time again.
When his businesses, and his family. He made a very generous gesture - - - an offer to consider any of the outfit's 60 men to look him up for a job when they were discharged.
I have no way of knowing if anyone took him up.
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© Wally Nadel 2007
Dr. Will R. Eubank - Adak 1943 Map of Alaska